Hayworth compared Napolitano to New Orleans looters, accusing the Democratic governor of trying to divert federal emergency dollars coming into the state in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

A top Napolitano aide countered by calling Hayworth's assertion "clueless" and "appalling."

Arizona and other states that helped with hurricane relief efforts and refugees are getting federal funds under a massive spending plan put forward by the Bush administration.

Napolitano also wants federal emergency funds and resources to help the state deal with illegal immigration and porous border security. The governor declared a state of emergency last month along the Mexican border and has committed $1.5 million in state emergency money to help law enforcement fight Mexican immigrant smugglers and drug cartels.

"While Americans are uniting to help the hurricane-devastated Gulf Coast region, it is sad to watch the governor of Arizona attempt to elbow Katrina's suffering victims aside and make phony claims on federal emergency disaster funding," said Hayworth, a frequent critic and top political rival of Napolitano. "Simply put, the governor of Arizona is no better than the brazen looters who seized on a natural tragedy to plunder downtown New Orleans. The governor knows and federal officials have confirmed that these funds are intended for relief and recovery from natural disasters, not to reimburse Arizona for law enforcement on the southern border."

Hayworth also challenged Napolitano to call up the Arizona National Guard and dispatch them to the Mexican border.

"The Congressman's press release is appalling, clueless and bureaucratic. It's typical Beltway-speak from another member of Congress," said Napolitano co-chief of staff Dennis Burke.

"It is particularly shameless for an Arizona member of Congress to use Katrina as an excuse not to protect our border; yet, he had no problem wasting $231 million in taxpayers dollars for a bridge-to-nowhere in Alaska. Under Governor Napolitano's leadership, the Arizona National Guard is already assisting on the border, serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and working in the Gulf Coast region. If the Congressman had bothered to call before firing off an inane press release, we could have told him that."

State National Guard troops have been helping federal border security agencies in a non-patrolling capacity at the border for some time.

Hayworth considered a run against Napolitano in next year's election, but opted to keep his House seat which represents Tempe, Scottsdale and Ahwatukee.

The conservative Republican is an increasingly outspoken advocate of tough immigration and border security policies to curtail illegal crossings into Arizona from Mexico.

Democrats, including Napolitano and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, have become aggressive on border security issues over the summer, pressing the Bush administration and the GOP-controlled Congress for more resources and funding to help stem illegal crossings, organized crime and drug cartel activity.

Richardson issued a similar state emergency in New Mexico this summer.

Napolitano is getting heat from immigration hawks for opposing a successful ballot question last year that denies state welfare benefits to illegals and vetoing GOP state bills aimed expanding that referendum.

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